The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network responds to the challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic by announcing an open call for art projects.
The current crisis is severely affecting the cultural sector. Many artists and creatives whose work is project-based have lost months worth of income. Amongst the crisis, the mission of the Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes remains unchanged. We exist to promote international mobility, visibility and collaboration of Finnish art, culture, and science. That is why we are launching a new and fast progressing open call for Finnish and Finland-based artists and artist groups.
The Institutes are seeking artistic proposals related to the following themes: state of emergency, radical change, resilience, artistic practice in the future, alone together. At the same time the project will act as a documentation of the crisis and one of the major social upheavals of our time and gives the artists an opportunity to reflect it through the arts. The application is open to all Finnish and Finland-based professional artists who have lost work opportunities due to the corona epidemic. The Institutes are commissioning projects from selected artists or artistic groups to be completed by June 30, 2020.
The total grant of an individual project is between 1 500–5 000 € (including charges). The expenses will be paid as work compensation or by invoice. The project’s compatibility to a diverse international distribution is considered an asset. The implementation of the project must comply with the national law concerning accessibility of digital services. The aim of the open call is to ensure the livelihoods of artists and the continuity of international collaboration.
Although mobility and physical encounters must now be restricted, we want to support the international networks and cooperation. The epidemic is changing the world in ways we could not have foreseen. We are facing a time when it’s necessary to question our way of life and to come up with new ways of living, working and securing our livelihoods. With ‘Together Alone’ we want to give a platform and encourage professionals to consider new ways of operating in a situation, where mobility and physical contact are no longer possible. We are especially looking for projects, which emphasize broad international collaboration – without physical contact.
Projects will not be restricted to any particular Finnish Institute’s geographic area but should fit to the sphere of activity of all of the institutes. The projects can take place or be available on the artist’s website, on a public web platform, on Youtube or on an alternative platform with a reach to wide audiences. The medium is not restricted and the result can be for example an artwork, work in progress, performance, a diary, a film etc. The Institutes will include the chosen projects as part of their official programmes, and they will be available for all the institutes worldwide. The artist will retain the copyright of the work.
The project will be carried out in a manner that will not contradict the regulations of the prevailing state of emergency conditions, and guidelines
The project should promote international networking and collaboration of Finnish artists or Finland-based artists. The open call encourages international dialogue, and creativity beyond national borders
Innovative and experimental approaches are encouraged. Send your project proposal (max 3 000 characters) to togetheralone@fininst.uk. Please attach a budget, a short CV, and a brief communication plan of the project.
Send all the files as a single PDF file, maximum 2 MB by size. The choice will be made by a panel of experts from the Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes.
Proposal deadlines
1. Deadline by Monday 30.3. 16:00 (Finnish time / GMT +2)
2. Deadline by Monday 20.4. 16:00 (Finnish time / GMT +2)
3. Deadline by Monday 4.5. 16:00 (Finnish time / GMT +2) All proposals received by the deadline will be considered and a selection will be made within two weeks after the deadline.
All submitted project proposals will remain under consideration through all selection rounds.
Please send enquiries by email to The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux: info@finncult.be
